As Scott Green sees it, the Clean Technology Center to be opened by the city of San Jose in a year represents the power of partnerships between government and business.

"The key to cleantech commercialization are projects like these," said Green, cleantech and regional policy officer for the city's Office of Economic Development. "This shows how cities can serve as catalysts in this process."

"We can't release any names just yet, but we are talking to some great partners," said Nanci Klein, deputy director of the Office of Economic Development, referring to both the private and public sectors.

San Jose Economic Development Director and Chief Strategist Kim Walesh said that Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which is managed through the University of California system, would be one of the partners in this project. She said Lawrence Berkeley has wanted to do more partnering in the South Bay and this was a good opportunity, which she told Business Journal Editor Moryt Milo during a prior interview.

She said Green is currently devising a business plan for the center to be unveiled by early next year.

"We will know a lot more about revenue (to operate) the center by then," she said.

Klein said the 25,000-square-foot space has a lot of potential for the city and Silicon Valley cleantech sector.

The Clean Technology Center scheduled to open in North San Jose late next year will be combined with a Habitat for Humanity ReStore that will sell donated and surplus construction materials, along with a nearby hazardous household waste collection facility operated by Santa Clara County.